Durability of mitral isthmus ablation with and without ethanol infusion
in the vein of Marshall
Abstract
Background: It is established that ethanol infusion in the vein of
Marshall (EIVOM) effectively creates a linear ablation lesion in the
mitral isthmus (MI). However, data on the long-term success rates of MI
ablation remains limited. Methods and Results: Our cohort consisted of
560 patients with non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent
an initial MI ablation. Ablations were performed by only radiofrequency
(RF) in 384 patients (RF group) or by RF and EIVOM in 176 patients
(EIVOM/RF group). Ethanol of 5 mL was used to perform EIVOM in advance
of RF. Following EIVOM, RF pulses were delivered to the lateral MI line.
Bidirectional MI block was fully achieved in 353 (first 318, re-do 35)
patients of the RF group and 171 (first 128, re-do 43) patients of the
EIVOM/RF group (p = 0.09 in the first, 0.10 in the re-do ablation
cases). In cases with complete MI line block, recurrent AF or atrial
tachycardia (AT) was observed in 130 (37%) patients of the RF group and
in 64 (37%) patients of the EIVOM/RF group (log-rank p = 0.12 in the
first, 0.30 in the re-do ablation cases). Of the total 194 patients, 112
with drug refractory AF or AT proceeded to the subsequent ablation
process. Reconnection of MI block line was observed in 39 (49%)
patients in the RF group and 25 (58%) patients in the EIVOM/RF group (p
= 0.32). Conclusion: EIVOM effectively ensures MI line block; however,
the reconnection rate was similar between the two groups.